Camping options near Hillsboro, Illinois include state parks, private campgrounds, and recreational areas within a 30-mile radius of town. The region features rolling terrain with elevations ranging from 550 to 700 feet above sea level. Most camping areas are situated around small lakes and ponds that attract fishing enthusiasts, with summer thunderstorms common from June through August.
What to do
Fishing at multiple lakes: Sangchris Lake State Park Campground offers excellent fishing opportunities with private docks at many campsites. "We always get sites with our own private dock to fish from," notes one camper at Sangchris Lake State Park Campground. The park features multiple fishing piers and boat launches.
Walking trails: Beaver Dam State Park provides walking paths around its lake. One visitor mentions, "The trail goes all the way around the lake with several fishing spots" and includes "some cute little bridges and stops to sit or step out onto the water." Beaver Dam State Park Campground trails are described as "overgrown in several areas" with "poorly marked" routes.
Swimming: Country Bend Campground includes an in-ground pool and additional water activities. A visitor reports, "Big inground pool, 18 hole putt putt, lots of outdoor games, planned activities on the weekends, shaded sites, and air conditioned cabins!" The campground also offers paddle boats according to another review.
What campers like
Privacy and space: Sherwood Forest Campground in Hillsboro provides spacious sites for camping. A visitor mentions, "Our site is very large with an equally large grass lawn area" and notes the campground is "nicely tucked away with plenty of shade." Sherwood Forest gets consistent praise for being "quiet and clean."
Lake views: Sangchris Lake State Park Campground receives high marks for its waterfront sites. One camper states, "All sites at Hickory Point very close to lake" while another notes "Sites are spacious and campground is quiet and leisurely during the week. Beautiful shoreline lots."
Family activities: Country Bend Campground offers numerous amenities for families. According to a visitor, "Huge campground with a lot of different areas. Be prepared for a lot of walking unless you rent or bring your own golf cart. Holiday weekends have so many planned activities, some for all ages." The jumping pillow and bridges with trails to ponds were specifically mentioned as favorites.
What you should know
Seasonal challenges: Spring camping can present particular difficulties, with Country Bend Campground receiving mixed reviews on maintenance. A visitor noted, "Great place to stay and feel part of the community. Pretty scenery to walk around. Plenty of lakes/ponds to fish," while other reviews mention drainage issues.
Site conditions vary: Okaw Valley Kampground provides a mix of site types with varying levels of amenities. According to one camper, "Most of the campers on that end seemed to be semi-permanent vacation trailers and were empty for the most part," while noting the campground is "well cared for and thoughtfully laid out."
Bathroom facilities: Maintenance of bathroom facilities varies across campgrounds. At Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area, one visitor noted, "Clean and very nice campsites." However, at Beaver Dam State Park, a camper reported, "Primitive tent camping area is very spacious but bathrooms were dirty and gross."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Country Bend Campground offers numerous kid-friendly amenities. One visitor reports, "We had a great time with lots of activities to keep the kiddos busy." Another mentions the "Family friendly atmosphere, big inground pool, 18 hole putt putt, lots of outdoor games, planned activities on the weekends."
Weekend activities: Rustic Acres Jellystone provides organized events for children. A camper notes, "Great fun for all ages" and "Spent the weekend here and let's just say it was a blast!" Another visitor mentions, "Great fishing, nice price for all the amenities."
Weather preparation: Summer camping near Hillsboro requires adequate shade. A visitor to Rustic Acres Jellystone commented, "There were plenty of mature trees for shade" and "the campsites were adequately spaced." The campground is described as "surrounded by cornfields" where "the air felt clean and fresh."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Kamper Kompanion RV Park offers convenient overnight stays for travelers. One RVer notes, "Easy on off, right by highway, pulled in after dark and they met us to show us to the site and got us settled. Easy pull thru site with 40' and toad." The park features "basically a big open flat field with sites and building spread throughout."
Pet accommodations: Kamper Kompanion RV Park provides facilities for travelers with pets. A visitor mentioned, "Cute little fenced in pet area with benches for the pups to stretch," noting the campground is "very quiet and super clean."
Accessibility for large vehicles: Sites at many local campgrounds can accommodate larger RVs, but access varies. A visitor to Timber Trails Campground reports, "Timber Trails Campground is an easy layover off of I-70" and "The park provided us an easy in and out, pull-through site that was level and convenient."
